Ashwin Seeks to Advance the Human Condition Through enFocus Projects

Ashwin’s eyes creeped open. He lightly rubbed his temples in an attempt to revitalize any memory of the dream out of which he had just slipped.

Nothing.

Unable to recall any details, the sleep weighed on him as he pulled himself out of bed. He sighed, reflecting on his inability to begin a dream journal. So many stories forgotten; so many lives lived in the ether.

Today, though, he must focus on other things.

As he began his morning routine, he subconsciously ran through his presentation. He was impressed. It felt much less rehearsed now, and sleep had solidified many of his edits from the night before.

He was prepared, but still erred on the side of nervousness. A flashback of notecards from a state science fair project on fuel cells swept through his mind–a core memory of hard-earned success on a formal presentation. For a moment, he was reassured. He’d come a long way from that boy growing up in Naperville, Illinois.

Even without a dream journal or clear path in mind, his curiosity carried him from those fuel cell experiments in his kitchen to working with the ViPER Research Group on Li-S coin cell batteries. After graduating with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, he was preparing the next steps for his future.

enFocus was now the guiding post for the next stage of his journey, and his final interview was today.

Inspired by the idea of creating a positive impact on his community, Ashwin aimed to apply his knowledge while learning more about the world. Whether through research or a form of artistic expression, he always approached problems with a child-like curiosity “to advance the human condition”–the motto of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), where Ashwin experienced a transformative high school education.

This opportunity was geared toward that advancement. He wanted to work side-by-side with the community and create sustainable solutions for change.

Now, the chance to begin this next stage was close to fruition; the only thing in his way was this presentation–a case study–and the remainder of his final interview. He just needed to be honest and confident.

As he prepared himself, another memory bubbled to the surface–one more stressful than nostalgic. He’d put himself in the spotlight, dancing on stage with the Purdue 2XS team. His heart was beating from his chest. The fear of failure lingered. In this flashback, though, despite his hesitation, he strikes his pose with confidence and smiles at the audience. His heart stutters, but his eyes are gleaming.

enFocus represented the new experience that he'd been working toward. Reinvigorated and validated by the memory of his performance, he continued to persevere.

Ashwin’s growth ultimately led him to the Fellowship–giving him the opportunity to work on projects that develop the community.

Now, between planning a new career center and expanding fiber infrastructure for the region, maybe he’ll finally get started on that dream journal.